ONEWORLD The JMU department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures is made up of faculty members from all over the world, 19 countries to be precise. our professors bring the best of their cultures to the department and its students, and to the community at large. They also know from personal or family experiences what it means to

Putting knowledge into action

At Madison, classrooms are not confined to four walls. Professors take students into the community - or across the globe - to solve problems and put knowledge into action. JMU professors and students are known as positive risk-takers who embrace the idea that the world can be a better place when caring people listen, think and act. In the following articles, two professors prove that the Madison Experience produces enlightened citizens who will help build a better world. Giuliana Fazzion, head of the department of foreign languages, literatures and cultures, writes about the globalization of students and professors. Integrated science and technology professor Jennifer Coffman writes about teaching community building and sustainability in Africa and at home.

Fluent in the language of service

Professors and students serve local minorities

By Giuliana Fazzion (Above): Established by Spanish professor Karina Kline- Gabel, AMISTAD is a program in which JMU students mentor and teach local Latino youth. live and work in a foreign country; thus it has been natural for them to become involved in one of JMU's central missions - globalization. Beyond teaching 14 languages and leading numerous study abroad

Kenyan connections

Community building at home and abroad

By Jennifer Coffman Each of us has the ability to contribute positively at home and/or abroad, although how best to do so may not be immediately obvious. When i was a junior in college, i didn't know that my travels to east africa would open a lifelong commitment to Kenya. Likewise, when i moved to the shenandoah Valley a dozen years later, i had little idea Jennifer Coffman chairs the board of Carolina for Kibera, which promotes programs like "Trash is Cash" and builds effective waste management systems. that i would be so involved in issues of local food production and land use. How these opportunities unfolded for me underscores the fact that we need not set out with grand plans to have our lives changed, nor must we outline in advance our specific contributions to the lives of Continued on Page 31 >>> Continued on Page 33 >>> 30 Madison Magazine a M istad PhotograP h by diane elliott ('00); Clean-uP by b eth-a nn kutCh M a

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

You need to upgrade the version of your Flash Player to version 9 minimum.